The Jamaica Plain New Haven Railroad line depot at Green Street, brought commuters to Boston. The railroad was put up onto a granite embankment in the 1890s. Courtesy of the Boston Public Library.

Patrolman William Feeney of JP Station 13 andRed Cross worker Helen Delahanty prepares to donate blood. January 12, 1965. Record American/Arthur Howard

Vehicle pass. Forest Hills Cemetery.

Vehicle pass. Forest Hills Cemetery. Reverse side regulations.

From Ballou's Pictorial, 1855. Source

Dedication of New England Sinai Hospital at 215 Forest Hills Street. November 1953. Boston Herald.

Oakview Terrace

This image ca. 1901 is of a house on Lotus Place, near the Forest Hills Car House. Image courtesy of the Boston City Archives.

The Jamaica Elm, located at Green and Rockview Streets. This image is from a glass plate negative in the JPHS archives. Image taken by Henry A. Stanley, 1914.

Picture of members of the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) in their uniforms next to the Jamaica Plain train station. We do not have an exact date for this picture, but it’s likely the 1880s (or early 1890s, since the station is not yet up on the Embankment).

Bartlett Square, 1951. Courtesy of City of Boston Archives.
More information and full resolution image here.

Ice slides down a conveyor at an ice house at Jamaica Pond. Courtesy of the City of Boston Archives. Full resolution image and more information here.

Workers load ice into an ice house at Jamaica Pond. Courtesy of the City of Boston Archives. More information and full resolution image here.

Workers remove snow from surface of Jamaica Pond in preparation for ice harvesting. Courtesy of the City of Boston Archives. More information and full resolution image here.

Corner of School and Washington Streets in Jamaica Plain in 1904. Courtesy of the City of Boston Archives. More information and full resolution image are found here.

This sketch is labelled “Sitting in Franklin Park drawn by Howard” The artist is John Howard Nickerson (born 1870) who was a resident of Dorchester in 1894. This sketch probably dates from around that time. Image courtesy of his granddaughter, Virginia Nickerson.

Centre St. looking from Burroughs St. towards Greenough St. in Jamaica Plain, 1967. Source of photograph is unknown.

Scene on July 26, 1966 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Jamaica Plain after three gunmen robbed an armored car, shown on left, of $60,000. Two guards were wounded in their legs. Bullets hit the truck and hospital windows.

Boathouse and boat landing at Jamaica Pond. Date unknown. Taken from a postcard in the archives of the Jamaica Plain Historical Society. Download a high resolution copy of this image at:
https://archive.org/details/boat-landing-pond-600dpi

The original wooden building of Blessed Sacrament parish in Jamaica Plain on a postcard dated 1912. Image courtesy of the Archives of the Archdiocese of Boston. Download full resolution image

Ice Houses and Boats on Jamaica Pond

Ice Houses are shown in the background of this circa 1900 photograph of Jamaica Pond. Recreational boats can be seen in the foreground. Download a 119MB .tif file.

A view of Hyde Square in the 1970s showing Centre Street looking towards Blessed Sacrament Church. On the right in the background is Sheridan Street. On the left is the Hyde Square Wine Co, advertising Bottled Liquors. Download a 150MB .tif file.

Photographic postcard. Possibly the John R. Alley house that stood at 3 Revere Street on the corner of Elm Street in Jamaica Plain. Download 68mb .tif file.

Working at the Ice Box in 1989

This image from the Boston Herald shows Kerry Lillis working at her father’s business July 1989. She has “a cool job”. Download full resolution version here.

back of previous image

The Staff Photo Caption Slip on the back of the image of Kerry Lillis working at the Ice Box in 1989.

St Thomas Aquinas Church in 1910 & 1940. Learn how the facade of the church was changed so drastically here. Images provided courtesy of Richard Heath

In 1978 Cambridge Seven completed this design for the new Forest Hills Station. This concept included a two-level garage over a parking lot at street level on Hyde Park Avenue. It also included two busways which circled through the station. Another significant change they proposed was to have 3 air vents built in the center of the site. The third vent was added to provide ventilation for the garage. However, local opposition to the garage, changes in elected officials and budget reductions on the Southwest Corridor project forced a complete redesign, The garage was eliminated and busway routes changed. The actual new station was complete in 1982. This rendering is from the Jamaica Plain District Profile published by the Boston Redevelopment Authority in 1979.

A view of Parkview Road, later renamed to Parkton Road. Circa 1913. Jamaica Plain Historical Society archives. Download a 99MB .tif file.

This view of Southbourne Road is stamped “White City”. In 1914, 4 apartment buildings covered with light stucco were erected on Hyde Park Ave and got nicknamed "White City". The area of Forest Hills was also just referred to as White City. Its borders were considered to be Walk Hill Street, Hyde Park Ave and St. Michael's Cemetery. Photographic postcard held in JPHS archives. Download 92mb .tif file.

53 Peter Parley Road in 1913 (postcard). Postmark Boston August 18, 1913 Jamaica Plain Station. Sent to Elizabeth MacDonald on Prince Edward Island, Canada. Image courtesy of Henry Scannell.

Amory Street Carhouse (undated) From City of Boston Archives - Public Works Department photograph collection, 5000.009

Back porch of condemned building at 83 Lamartine Street (corner of Hoffman Street). This image was originally published June 24, 1957 in the Boston Traveler. Visible In the background on the left is the Holtzer-Cabot Electric Company. Part of the Jamaica Plain Historical Society archives. Download a high-resolution image here

A bank customer utilizes the drive in teller window at what was then the First National Bank at 677 Centre St. in Jamaica Plain, MA. July 27, 1946. Download high resolution image.

Green Street Station circa 1969. Courtesy of Martin Tracy via the Facebook group "Old School Boston".

From 1873 until 1923 the North End Mission ran a home for children on what is today Goodway Road in the Woodbourne area. The Mount Hope Home provided a summer escape from the crowded city neighborhoods. Download

325/327 Lamartine Street. Photograph by Robert Siegelman, 1983. Courtesy of Steven Muller. Download

325/327 Lamartine Street. Photograph by Robert Siegelman, 1983. Courtesy of Steven Muller.

Download

325/327 Lamartine Street. Photograph by Robert Siegelman, 1983. Courtesy of Steven Muller. Download

Interior view of Hailer's pharmacy taken 1986 or 1987 at the corner of Centre Street and Seaverns Ave. Photograph courtesy of Laura Wulf (www.laurawulf.com). See this article for more information. https://www.jphs.org/20th-century/hailers-drug-store.html

Download 55MB .tif file. https://archive.org/details/hailers-drugstore-interior

Interior view of Hailer's pharmacy taken 1986 or 1987 at the corner of Centre Street and Seaverns Ave.

Photograph courtesy of Laura Wulf (www.laurawulf.com). See this article for more information. https://www.jphs.org/20th-century/hailers-drug-store.html

Download 55MB .tif file. https://archive.org/details/hailers-drugstore-interior [Additional interior views of Hailer’s from JP photographer Robin Radin https://robinradinphotography.com/category-title-4]

Interior view of Hailer's pharmacy taken 1986 or 1987 at the corner of Centre Street and Seaverns Ave.

Photograph courtesy of Laura Wulf (www.laurawulf.com). See this article for more information. https://www.jphs.org/20th-century/hailers-drug-store.html

Download 55MB .tif file. https://archive.org/details/hailers-drugstore-interior

55 Lochstead Avenue, Home of Maida Solomon, circa 1920. Solomon was a pioneering psychiatric social worker who taught at Simmons College. Image courtesy of the Schlesinger Library/ https://iiif.lib.harvard.edu/manifests/view/ids:1479102$1i

18 Robeson Street in the early 20th century. This house was the childhood home of sculpture Louise Kidder Sparrow (from age 9 to 25). Courtesy of the Schlesinger Library https://iiif.lib.harvard.edu/manifests/view/ids:1506820$1i

Louise Kidder Sparrow (left), her mother (center) and her sister Frances (right) all seated in a steam automobile of her father’s invention, ca. 1900-1901. Possibly near their home on Robeson Street. Schlesinger Library https://iiif.lib.harvard.edu/manifests/view/ids:1515362$1i

Centre Street (at the intersection with Thomas Street) in the 1950s. Image posted on the ‘I Grew Up in Jamaica Plain’ Facebook group.

Image of the mural on the side of 405 Centre Street taken in the early 2000s when this location housed Bella Luna Restaurant upstairs and the Milky Way (candlepin bowling alley) in the lower level. Celebrities featured: Bob Marley, Tito Puente, Nomar Garciaparra, Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez. Locals include: Pepe (from Tacos El Charro) in mariachi gear, Mary Mary (All-Star Karaoke), Tony Barros of the Mayor’s Office, Stavros Frantzis (the building owner), Damiris Pimentel (owner of Ultra Salon). The Virgin of Guadalupe dominates the right hand side. Image courtesy of the Boston Globe.

A 1909 summons to West Roxbury District Court for Robert F. Dixon, who got caught speeding on the Arborway (over 10 mph). Image courtesy of Greg French.

Jamaica Plain High School diploma issued to Henry T. Montanari dated June 1936.

One of the Arnold Arboretum’s collections is Ernest Wilson’s New England Trees. This image dates from Dec. 1925 and is on the Arborway. Courtesy of the Fellows of Harvard College (Arnold Arboretum). More on Ernest Wilson

Interior of A&P grocery store on Centre St. in Jamaica Plain. Photograph courtesy of Greg French.
Download

A photo of the side of 40 Boylston Street (36 Beecher now). Photo is labelled as the house built by Thomas Boylston in 1866. Image courtesy of Chris Boutourline.

Another photo of 40 Boylston Street (36 Beecher now). Photo is labelled as the house built by Thomas Bolyston in 1866. Image courtesy of Chris Boutourline.

A more distant view of 40 Boylston Street (36 Beecher now). Photo is labelled as the house built by Thomas Boylston in 1866. Image courtesy of Chris Boutourline.

A woman enjoys the sun sitting on the porch of 40 Boylston Street (36 Beecher now). Photo is labelled as the house built by Thomas Boylston in 1866. Image courtesy of Chris Boutourline.

The Weiler-Sterling Company, 3600 Washington Street, circa 1940. Frank Edward Weiler, is the man on the far right (one of the “sons”). At various times, the company did business as E. Weiler & Sons & Weiler-Sterling Farms. Image courtesy of Susan Weiler (granddaughter of Frank). Thanks to Bill Shamlian for image assistance.

Rear of 101 Lamartine in 1956. Courtesy of City of Boston Archives. Inscribed Donovan's Terrace on the rear of the photograph. Donovan Place was a dead-end private way leading from 103 Lamartine Street, laid out in 1905. Download this photograph

Left to right. Edward Lieber (1928-1989), Ernest Lieber (1891-1968), and Wanda Lieber (1895-1974). Ernest Lieber was a brewmaster at Haffenreffer Brewery in Jamaica Plain. Courtesty of Patty Lieber.
Download

Elephant den at Franklin Park Zoo, Boston.

Courtesy of Patti Lieber. November, 1964 Download

Sam cuts the hair of Dan O'Halleran at barber shop across from the Curley School on Centre St. in Jamaica Plain. Courtesy of Patty Lieber.
Download

The Esso gas station that stood at the corner of Centre and Orchard Streets. This photo is from the 1940s. Image courtesy of Peg Ryan.

Intersection of Belmore Terrace and Boylston St. Courtesy of Charlie Golay. Download

A 1910 invoice from the Andrew Thanisch Carriage Factory which was located on Brookside Avenue

A postcard from the Christmas season of 1940 outlines the sale items at a clothing shop in Woolsey Square, which was conveniently outside the Jamaica Plain RR Station.

Prior to the introduction of home refrigerators in 1916, ice was commonly used to keep food fresh. The Jamaica Pond Ice Company delivered ice to residences for use in iceboxes that were wood chests lined with zinc. This photograph shows two delivery men using ice tongs to hold blocks of ice cut to the proper size to fit into iceboxes. From JPHS archives. Courtesy of Claire Senatore from Revolutionary Spaces (Bostonian Society). Download

Florence, Patrick, and Alice Meehan. 1889. Read more about Patrick Meehan here: https://rememberjamaicaplain.blogspot.com/2007/12/patrick-meehan-rip.html Photograph from JPHS archives. Courtesy of Chris Bouterline. Download

Ad for National Packaging Machinery Company located at 194 Green St. in Jamaica Plain. The company made machines that formed, dated, weighed, sealed, and wrapped packaging. Image from Ebay dated 1923.

MTA station on left and New York New Haven Railroad Station on right at Forest Hills. 11/30/1909. Courtesy of Historic New England.

Calso gas station at Forest Hills circa 1950. From a Post to Dirty Ole Boston Facebook group without attribution.

Postcard, Norfolk Blanket Cleansing Company circa 1917 (2 cent stamp) from the JPHS archives. Download. The Remember Jamaica Plain blog has an article on Rees & Rees’ predecessor firm documenting when they moved from 50-54 Call Street to 109-115 Brookside Ave.

Notice for the 11th reunion of West Roxbury High School held at Curtis Hall in Jamaica Plain on March 30, 1894. As seen on Ebay.

Image labeled ‘St. Thomas High School, Jamaica Plain September 13, 1927’ This picture was taken on St. Joseph Street. From JPHS archives. See detailed view
Download

Invoice to Mrs. Leyman from Depot Carriages at Jamaica Plain Station for rides furnished in September 1888. John Thorburn and W.M. Murray proprietors. Ebay purchase, archives of Jamaica Plain Historical Society. Download

Grocery bill for Mrs. J. Lyman from Norcross & Myrick Groceries located at Centre and Myrtle Streets. July 1, 1891
Ebay purchase, archives of Jamaica Plain Historical Society. Download

Built as Schwaben Hall for a German club and then later the Irish Center Club. The location at Heath and Schiller Streets is now part of the Hennigan schoolyard. From American Red Cross files courtesy of the National Archives. Download

Robert F. Anderson operated a mobile radio repair service out of his shop at Burnett and Washington Sts. He also provided public address services for campaign rallies and other large events. Circa 1939.

Left - the group of 29 women in the first unit of Female Telephone Operators sent to France during WWI on 3/2/1918. They were part of US Army Signal Corps. Right is an image taken January 10, 1919 in the Telephone Exchange at Bassens Docks with some operators in action. The woman on the right is Supervisor Mrs. Eulalie I. Audet, of Jamaica Plain.

Photograph by Anthony Cabral from an Ebay post. Taken on May 7th, 1953. The three boys in the back of the room are Jamaica Plain High School Drill Team members participating in an air raid test.

The female students at MIT in 1888. Ellen Swallow Richards (home on Eliot Street) is at the far left in the top row and Sophia Hayden is at the far left in bottom row (home on Lamartine St). Sophia was first female to receive an architecture degree from the MIT. Image courtesy of the MIT Museum.

Ad for the Forest Hills Factory Outlet which was “destination shopping” for many in the second half of the 20th century,

Invoice from J.W. Goodnow, Baker and Confectioner, located on Centre St. opposite of Burroughs St. 1888

Haffenreffer & Company bill of sale to an establishment in Fitchburg, MA in 1890s. 30 dozen bottles for $16.50 plus deposit or four and one-half cents per bottle.

The Stony Brook at Amory Street somewhere between 1880 to 1889. From the Edgar Sutton Dorr Photograph Collection of the Boston Public Library.

Home of the Children's Museum at 60 Burroughs St. in Jamaica Plain from 1936 to 1979 when it moved to 308 Congress St.
Download

Joe Kennedy blasts home mortgage scams at a protest in front of 4 Arcadia St. in Jamaica Plain on September 27, 1993. Boston Herald photograph by Jim Mahoney. Download

First-grade students from the old Lowell School, seen in the background, carry their books into the new John F. Kennedy School in Jamaica Plain in December of 1963—Herald Traveler photograph by Warren E. Patriquin. Download

Paul's Barber Shop at 383 Centre St. in Jamaica Plain. Courtesy of Digital Commonwealth. June 30, 1938. Photograph by Leon Abdalian. Download

Two employees of the Jamaica Pond Ice Company with their delivery wagan. Courtesy Digital Commonwealth. Download

33 Wenham St. Jamaica Plain. Circa 1900-1902. Download

Arborway Court. Circa 1915-1938. Download

Emerson Hospital, a 42-bed institution, once stood at 118 Forest Hills St. Download

St. Andrew the Apostle Church, Walk Hill St., Jamaica Plain, 1915–1938. Download

Boston Police Officer Frank Andreozzi (front left), from Jamaica Plain, poses with fellow police officers at a 1960s training exercise.

Jamaica Plain boys and girls study maps at the Jamaica Plain Library branch. They are from left to right, Virginia Spicer, James Cronin, Benda Botteind, Dorothy Jordan, Barbara Estey, and Dorothy O'Halloran. Published in the Boston Herald, October 7, 1939.

From a postcard published by A. A. Sanning, Jamaica Plain. Printed in Germany. Postcard canceled 1918

Ad for a boot sold by Edwards Shoe Co. at 427 Centre St. in Jamaica Plain, 1937

Students at the Mary E. Curley School in September 1974. The Boston Public Schools were under a federal court order to desegregate schools. Due to the racist frenzy in opposition to busing and desegregation, police were assigned to escort school buses and provide security at the schools. Photograph by Ulrike Welsch, Boston Globe. Copyright Boston Globe, all rights reserved.

The Hyde Square section of Jamaica Plain, MA at the rotary where Perkins and Centre St. intersect. Circa 1962. From the JPHS archives.
Download

Boomerangs, a beloved Boston thrift store chain run by the Aids Action Committee whose mission is to support HIV/AIDS care and services across the state closed their Jamaica Plain location at 716 Centre Street in June 2024. Photo by Charlie Rosenberg

The Ella Cochran Adams house was once located at 434 Jamaicaway. This location is now the backyard of the Rogerson House. The house dates from about 1906. Image courtesy of Nick Trainor

Hunnewell Hall (at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University) with spring blooms. JPHS Archives/donated by Kathleen Mortenson
Download

A moonlit view of Jamaica Pond. JPHS Archives/donated by Kathleen Mortenson
Download

A colorized view of Jamaica Pond. JPHS Archives/donated by Kathleen Mortenson
Download

A view of the conifer collection on the bank of Bussey Brook at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. This view is just inside the South Street gate. JPHS Archives/donated by Kathleen Mortenson.
Download

The Boston Children's Museum occupied the former Perkins family mansion (Pinebank) on a bluff next to the Jamaica Pond from 1913 to 1936. Postmarked Oct 13, 1921

JPHS Archives/donated by Kathleen Mortenson

Download

The stairway leading up from Chestnut Street just as it intersects with Perkins Street (which is technically a block over from the Jamaicaway despite the caption). Today, they lead up to the Cabot Estate condominiums today but were originally built to access Nutwood. JPHS Archives/donated by Kathleen Mortenson
Download

An advertisement featuring the Beverly Singing and Dance Orchestra highlighting their hit song 'She's The Emblem of the Red White and Blue'. This group is part of the American Federation of Musicians, Local No. 9 (the Jamaica Plain branch).

The Curtis Hall Community Center at 20 South St. was previously a municipal building serving as a mini-city hall. This view is circa 1930s.

St. Andrew the Apostle Church, Walk Hill St., Jamaica Plain.
ca. 1915–1938. Download

Current site of the Scagnoli-Nihill Athletic Complex, across from Doyles. The Sturtevant factory can be seen in the background along with the old Jamaica Plain High School.

Courtesy Digital Commonwealth. Download: https://dp.la/item/0edff8db12235d9a26bf9cda64a360ce.
See another view at: https://repository.library.northeastern.edu/files/neu:m0473j88z

View of the rear of Forest Hills Station in Jamaica Plain, MA taken from Woodlawn St. and Hyde Park Ave. near the Toll Gate Inn. Ebay purchase, now held in the archive of the Jamaica Plain Historical Society. Photo taken September 18, 1949

Download: https://archive.org/details/forest-hills-1949